Sir Geoffrey Codrington, Hon. Colonel, takes the salute at a march-past of the Yeomanry's A Sqn led by Major M R Kimball, MP for Gainsborough.

Leicester Evening Mail, May 13th 1956.

Economy Move May Close Brentwood-Road Drill Hall

Leics, Derbys. Yeomanry to merge.

The Leicestershire Yeomanry (TA) is to be merged with the Derbyshire Yeomanry.

It is an economy move and the amalgamation will take place later this year.

The Leicestershire Yeomanry's four squadrons which embrace Rutland, will be cut to two and some of the Drill halls in Brentwood Road, Leicester, at Melton, Loughborough, Market Harborough and Burbage may close.

It has not yet been decided where the headquarters of the reorganised regiments will be - here or in Derbyshire.

The Leicestershire Yeomanry formed 152 years ago, has just returned from camp at Tilshead, Salisbury Plain, where a farewell parade was held.

Took Salute

Col. Sir Geoffrey Codrington, Hon. Colonel of the Regiment took the salute and read a message from the Duke of Edinburgh, who three years ago was appointed the senior hon colonel of the Yeomanry.

The Duke's message read:-

"I have followed with close interest the reorganisation of the reserve army and I am naturally very sad at the way it affects the Leicestershire Yeomanry.

Nobody likes changes but, unfortunately, methods of warfare, particularly in this age, are constantly changing and all the services must continually adapt themselves to those changes.

The Regiment has been selected in partnership with the Derbyshire Yeomanry, to form a new Reconnaissance Regiment."

"Old Friends"

"The Derbyshire Yeomanry are old friends, associated in South Africa, and neighbours with a magnificent war record.

I am quite sure that the new partnership will produce a regiment worthy of the best traditions of both Regiments and of the Reserve Army."

The Duke paid a tribute to the officers and NCOs and men of the Leicestershire Yeomanry who had served it since it was formed.

"Our best memorial to them,"

His message declared,

"is to keep alive their spirit of service."

Sir Geoffrey Codrington said that modern tactical requirements forced a reorganisation of the Reserve Army.

It was, he thought, a privilege to produce a combined Regiment with the Derbyshire yeomanry - the oldest Armoured Car Regiment , and the first into "Tunis" during the War.

This, he went on, was the end of a chapter, and the start of a new one, in the Leicestershire Yeomanry's history.

An old Regiment of Hussars and one of the last Cavalry units to be mechanised, it was originally known as the Loyal Leicestershire Corps of Yeomanry Cavalry.

The Ferret shared many similar design features with the Dingo, but featured a larger fighting compartment and an optional small machine gun turret. It was built from an all-welded monocoque steel body, making the drive extremely noisy as all the running gear was within the enclosed body with the crew. Four wheel drive was incorporated together with "Run Flat" tyres. The turret, though not fitted to all models, carried a single machine gun. Six grenade launchers fitted to the hull (three on each side) could carry smoke grenades in British service.

It is fast and small enough to be used in an urban environment but strong enough to negotiate rugged terrain off road. The Ferret is no longer in service in the British Army, although several Commonwealth countries still operate them to this day.

HQ Sqn LDY PAO vehicle markings on Daimler MK2 and Dingo Scout Car (pre 1963).

Honorary Colonels & VIPs

Colonel. Sir Geoffrey Codrington, KCVO, CB, CMG, DSO, OBE, TD

LY PAO Commanding Officer 1922-29, OC A Sqn on the 12th-14th May 1915.

RHQ

Lt.Col. Ridley-Thompson talking to the "Silver Guard" at a Regimental function at the Grand Hotel in Leicester in 1964.


Regimental parade at Bellerby Camp in 1964, Hon. Col. Lord Brassey  (standing on a B Sqn Ferret) takes the salute from Lt. Col Ridley-Thompson the commanding officer.

Lt Col. P V Radford

OC 1960-63

Patrick Vaughan Radford was born in Nottingham in 1920. Educated in Oundle, he joined the family firm Stag Furniture as a cabinet maker, before enlisting in the Royal Armoured Corps in 1941. After attending Sandhurst he was commissioned, and from 1942 to 1946 served in the Derbyshire Yeomanry in North Africa, Italy and Austria. He was awarded an MC in Italy in 1944 for bravery in the North African and Italian campaigns.

After the war, Mr. Radford re-joined Stag Furniture as general manager and was made director in 1950. He served with the firm for 53 years and, as joint managing director, chairman and finally president, oversaw its growth to become one of the largest cabinet makers of bedroom and dining room furniture in Europe. Stag Furniture became a publicly owned company in 1976.
Having stood as the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Stockton-on-Tees in 1966 and 1970, he continued to work for the Conservative Party for many years. He was appointed CBE in 1983 and became a Deputy Lieutenant for Nottinghamshire in 1987.

Both Patrick and his wife Evelyn Wilkinson, whom he married in 1956, were fascinated by antiques and design and over the course of their lives together at Langford Hall, collected a variety of items that filled the Georgian house and family home. The couple opened one of the outbuildings on the estate as an antiques centre for a brief period, though were known to always keep their best finds.

Lt.Col. A Murray-Smith

1956-60

First Officer Commanding of the LDY, High Sheriff of Leicestershire and Master of the Quorn Hunt.

Capt. P T S Bowlby (411701)

Gazetted (London), 18th May 1962, is granted the acting rank of Major on the 7th of January 1962.

Lt. G R C M Spencer (418735)

Gazetted (London), 18th May 1962, to be Captain from the 7th of January 1962.

Lt. J J Inglesant (423499)

Gazetted (London), 18th May 1962, to be Captain from the 7th of January 1962.

Officers at Durham Camp 1966

Col. P V Radford, Col. Sir. G Codrington, Col. M C Bagshaw, Lord Brassey, Sir J Crompton-Inglefield, Col. A Ridley-Thompson.

HRH the Duke of Edinburgh inspecting a Troop of the LDY c1960 with the Honorary Colonel Sir Geoffrey Codrington, note the collars badges alternate by Leicestershire and then Derbyshire Yeomanry per man.

Bellingham, Henry A. (Lieut.),

d. 3 Jun 1959, s/o Lieu. Col. Arthur (R.A.F). & Jean, Leicestershire & Derbyshire (Prince Albert's Own Yeomanry), accidentally killed on army manoeuvres. Having survived the war as a merchant sailor he and his driver Tpr Farringdon were killed when their Daimler Scout Car overturned whilst at camp in 1959.

RSM Scrivener (9th/12thL)

LDY RSM c1963

RQMS Smith

c1963

Bandmaster Roy Stent

Formerly the Band Sergeant Major in the 9th/12th Lancers. He wrote the regimental march for the LDY.

Cpt. O N G SCHOLTE

12th Lancers and LY Adjutant 1956-8.

RSM W Frape

RSM Frape was also a 9th/12th Lancer

22241347 Sgt. J R EDEN
His medals from an online sale. They were addressed to the LDY HQ.

HQ Squadron on parade in "The Newarke" in Leicester c1960, the Leicestershire Yeomanry collar badge is worn with the LDY cap badge.

C Squadron LDY  commanded by Captain Simon Everard  and being inspected by Deputy Honorary Colonel J F Crompton-Inglefield, Brecon, Wales,1963.


C Sqn, Leicestershire & Derbyshire (P.A.O.Yeomanry) on Parade c1960's